"Harry Potter and the Brethren of Ares"

Chapter 15: Some Kind of Superman

Harry was ready to drop his face right into his bangers and mash. He contemplated his plate for a moment. Pretty normal, really- bangers, mash, and bacon. He tilted his head, hoping to see some sort of mystical sign that would solve all of his troubles.

After all, the Boy-Who-Lived should see signs of great power in his breakfast food, right?

Or maybe he was just really tired.

Hermione jumped up to get The Daily Prophet from the plain tawny owl that had swooped and settled in Ron's home fries. Harry snorted. "'Mione, you still buy that rubbish?"

"'Know thine enemy.'" she quoted.

Harry rolled his eyes and snatched the offended paper from her hands. Ignoring her huffs of protest, he flipped through the pages until an article caught his eye. He snickered. "Ron, Hermione, Ginny, listen to this!" His friends leaned forward, eager to hear today's garbage.

"The Love Goddess's Column: The Boy-Who-Lived's Quest for MORE Fame!

By Aphrodite Waers, Witch Weekly correspondent

The Boy-Who-Lived is well known for his many defeats of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. But, is Harry Potter out for more fame?" Harry gasped and placed a hand over his heart. "Oh, I must find out!" he cried overdramatically.

"Sources say that Mr. Potter is out to use his friends (the Weasleys, a poor but well respected family) and his status as a muggle-raised child to give him more influence over our world. He sang a muggle song at Hogwarts's Valentines Ball a few days ago, causing many a witch to swoon, including Professor Minerva McGonagall." There, Harry paused to share a laugh with Hermione and Ginny. He didn't notice that Ron was staring at his plate, looking angry.

"These young ladies should be careful, though- this young man is playing with hearts now that's he's reached the age of sixteen. Although alleged to be dating Padma Patil of the India-born Patils, it has been confirmed that he is keeping his relationship with young Miss Hermione Granger under wraps. Miss Granger was rumored to be involved with love potions in Harry's fourth year, Harry seems to have stuck with her. They are probably in cohorts to fool us. Also, another claim to be justified is that he is dating young Ginny Weasley, the fiery Gryffindor chaser. He certainly seems to have his fair pick of the ladies!"

Harry burst out laughing at this point. He was back to back with Ginny, leaning against her for support, and vice versa. Hermione was covering her mouth with her hand, trying to collect herself. Ron was picking at his plate, murmuring to himself, ears bright red.

"We can only thankful that, despite his tangled love life, Harry is truly something. American muggles, whom I have studied extensively, would call him some kind of Superman."

Harry folded the paper in half, chuckling. "Rubbish, Hermione. I told you."

Hermione, however, was frowning at Ron. "Are you alright, Ron?"

"Just dandy, 'Mione."

Ginny shot Harry a warning look. Harry clenched his hands, immediately annoyed that Ron thought the article was based on fact. "Ron, you don't believe this crap, do you?"

"I don't know, Potter. It probably is true."

Harry glared. "What the hell are you saying, Ron?"

"I'm saying, stay away from Hermione and my sister!"

"Hermione is my best friend, and Ginny is too! As are you, may I remind you! I would never cheat on anyone!"

"That's not what I mean!" Ron stood up, face red. "You think you're some great hero, don't you? You are using us, or something! It's just like fourth year- acting like you don't care about all the rumors, when Vicky was courting Hermione-"

Hermione shot up. "Stifle yourself, Ron!" She was red in the face. "You don't know a thing about what happened between me and Victor!"

Ron looked down at her, visibly ticked off. "I know nothing should have happened. You should have come to the ball with me!"

Her eyes widened. "You didn't ask me! How was I supposed to go with you when you didn't even ask?"

Life in the Great Hall continued, not even a teacher looking up. People were very used to Ron and Hermione fighting.

Ron's jaw dropped. "You knew!"

Hermione stomped. "No, I didn't! You didn't even know that I was a girl until you needed me to go to the ball with you!"

"Believe me, Hermione, I knew you were a girl, and I definitely still do." he said hoarsely.

Hermione froze.

"Anyone, 'Mione, this is about Harry!" He pointed to the black-haired young man.

Harry calmly took a sip of his pumpkin juice. "I knew today would suck. My best friend has the maturity level of a two year old again."

Standing, Harry swung his bag over his shoulder and exited the Great Hall.

***

Harry slipped into a rarely-used hallway. He flinched at the sound of heels clicking on the ground. He leaned against the wall, waiting.

Fulfilling his expectations, Ginny appeared a moment later, visibly annoyed. "You did NOT handle that well, Harry." She began to pace.

"Whatever. Ron needs to let go of some things."

"That's right, Harry. The past is the past, and there's nothing we can do about it."

Harry glared at her, very aware that she wasn't speaking of what had transpired in the Great Hall. "It's not like you have ever screwed up royally. You've never cost someone their life."

Ginny's eyes flared. "Wake up, Harry! You may well the Boy-Who-Lived, but I'm the flipping Girl-Who-Lived! But poor Harry Potter is too caught up in his own troubles to remember ickle Ginny's time with big, bad Tom!" The look on her face was both angry and self-loathing.

Harry sneered at her. "There you go now, another person trying to get sympathy. Typical Weasley."

She slapped him. He staggered.

She put her hands up and shoved him against the wall, pinning him. She was breathing heavily.

"Potter, if you ever, even for a second, take your head out of the clouds and wonder why I stopped loving you, remember this: the fourteen-year-old man I saw leave Hogwarts two years ago was replaced by the self-pitying little boy I'm speaking to right now.

She released him, and stepped back. "Like you'd ever think about me." She turned on her heel, and fled.

For a moment, Harry could've sworn that he saw tears in her eyes.  

***

Wormtail reminded himself to put on his poker face. Of course, being a pureblood, he had no idea what a poker face was, but Lily had said it a lot. He paused briefly, reflecting on the sins of his past. Deciding that he still didn't care much, he shrugged and pushed the rough wooden door in front of him open. The man no longer fit to be called Peter stepped into the large chamber, reminding himself to keep his big mouth firmly closed. Shut...closed...shut...he couldn't decide, they both sounded good according to the voices.

Pushing what little hair he had left away from his sweaty forehead, the short man hobbled more than walked into the wide chamber. He restrained himself from squealing at the sight of the sacrifice happening near the Arch at that moment. Turning away and swallowing hard, Wormtail scampered around the outer edge of the cavernous room and opened another door. He darted into the dark hall, beady eyes moving back and forth rapidly, and felt his way through the darkness.

After touching a few unpleasant things, his hands found the door and swung it open. He stepped into a somewhat lighter chamber, and flinched immediately. Wonderful, a grim fabrication laboratory. Laboratory....room...lab.....hmm.

Closing his eyes, he stumbled his way across the room, and grabbed the doorknob, pushing with all his might. He gasped as it didn't open, and jiggled it repeatedly. He gave up, and pulled his hand away-

Ahh. You had to pull it.

Pulling the door open, he stepped into the next chamber. A bright smile burst across his face.

There was his wand! He stooped down, and grabbed it. Smiling in ecstasy, he turned around.

Wait...what had he come into this room for? Frowning, Wormtail tucked his wand into its holster, wondering how it had gotten into his hand.

"Peter."

Peter whipped around, horrified. The room was completely empty, a simple stone cupboard, really.

"Peter, you know where I am."

"Get out, get out, get out.." he murmured, covering his ears.

"Peter, I can't get out, you won't let me..."

"Get out of my head...I'm not mad!"

"Yes, you are...you sold your soul to the devil, Peter."

"No, I didn't! I didn't! Death is nothing!"

"Peter, you killed them."

A soft, feminine voice floated into the area. "Why did you kill me, Peter? We loved you."

A sharper, manly voice came in. "You've made my son grow up miserably, Wormtail. Peter is dead, you are just a shell."

"NO!" Wormtail cried. He sank to the floor, rocking back and forth. He curled up into a tight ball.

"Peter...Peter....PETER!"

Wormtail sat up abruptly, relaxing when he realized the voices had gone. "What is it, Severus?"

"The Dark Lord requires your presence. Come, Peter." The sallow man turned on his heel and marched out of the room, muttering something about madmen.

Peter stood up shakily as a thought occurred to him.

He had sold his soul to the devil.

Wormtail shook himself hard, pushing his thoughts away.

Now, where was his wand?

***

Author's Note: I got a more positive reaction to the last one than I thought I would!

106 reviews! I can't believe it! The most I've ever gotten is around 55. This is very wonderful! Thank you all so much!

Façade1: SMECKSAY POTTER! The song he sang was "Shimmer" by Fuel. It's from their 1998 album.

Kim13: I love Dean, I really do ^^;

Samantha: Thanks!

Aphrodite13: Hmm....I bet you do. I don't like this chapter either x.X

Hedowl5: Who knows what the mighty coupling shall be O.o YOU WERE REVIEWER ONE HUNDRED!

David305: Thanks, my spell check did that *glares at spell check for not knowing HP words*

Apinda: Did you like this chapter? I believe it was much too short.

PhoenixPadfoot89: I love Harry singing ^^ I am keeping on going! Me fail English? That are unpossibable...

Hermione 'DB' Granger: *hugs* I haven't gotten a review from you in so long! I was wondering if you'd forgotten me L Gotta love R/Hr UST! There's more in this chappy ^^

Review please!